Yes, today's weather was perfect, PERFECT, and I beg all my fellow Floridians to hurry home from parts north to enjoy our autumn, as short-lived as it might be. To you folks who live a good distance from Florida's Gulf Coast, you can now be officially jealous. Today was about 75-degrees and blues skies. NO humidity (for us anyway.) The sun was warm and bright and right now it's about 60. Ah-h-h. I warned you in yesterday's post that I was going to a classic car show. There are several really nice shows in the US and this one is spectacular. The Mirror Lake Classic Auto Festival is held on the streets of Lakeland and all around the town's beautiful Mirror Lake. (The swans preened for my camera as classic wooden speed boats cruised around the lake for their admirers.) It's not Pebble Beach or Amelia Island but ranks right up there as a lead-up to Florida's-own Amelia Island held in March. Today's festival featured cars of every vintage, from Brass Era antiques to newer Roush Mustangs. The rare and unusual to the extremes in design and technology such as the cute Amphicars (built in Berlin from 1962-1967) that go from your driveway right into the water. Several put on demonstrations during the day. There was a Mercedes-Benz 600 and a 1942 Czech Tatra T87 from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum collection from across Tampa Bay in Pinellas Park.The car pictured is a very special vehicle with an interesting history. The 1939 Cadillac 2-Door 7567 Convertible is a magnificent restoration and winner of the 2008 Senior National First Prize awarded by the Antique Automobile Club of America. Owned by Mr. Richard Nunis of Windemere, Florida, it was a special order in '39 reputedly by a Mafia "family" member and even acquired bullet holes in its rear fender. The Walt Disney Company bought it along with a number of other cars built in '39 to be used in a "Voyage to 1939" themed promotion in 1990, with the majestic ship, RMS Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach, California. (Disney owned the ship and operated the attraction then.) The present owner, and his very nice wife, bought the car in 1992, and have lovingly restored it to its immaculate and award-winning condition. Great car and very nice owners!
The car to the left is another of the hundreds of cars that sat and smiled today for thousands of admiring show-goers. It is a 1932 BSA 3-Wheeler built by the British Small Arms company and is a motorcycle-like car proudly showing off it leather-covered wooden frame construction.Go to Tampa Florida Photo HERE to see more spectacular cars at today's great auto festival.
All-in-all, the day could not have been better. (It's time to pack for your Florida vacation. Now! Hurry.)
Check out the great WEEKEND REFLECTIONS HERE that James is making possible through his blog, Newtown Daily Photo.
16 comments:
My favorite vehicle there was the BMW Isetta!
Agree with you on the weather - it was salubrious!
@ Pixel Peeper - Go to my other blog, Tampa Florida Photo, for more of the show...and the fantastic Isetta.
Frank that is so cool! The car and the reflection. Weekend Reflections at my Newtown blog would be honored to have this wonderful reflection in the meme. If you don't feel like participating I understand, but that is a darn good reflection.
:)
@ James - OK, I'm on-board for Weekend Reflections! Great of you to pull it together and play host. Great idea. Thanks for your invite.
Fabulous auto and great reflection.
Sunny :)
Frank, you really caught my attention with this post. My parents had a 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 special which, when my father passed away in 1981 was passed down to me. I ended up selling the car to a customer of mine, (I worked for Cadillac at the time), who re-restored the car beautifully. I have a real soft spot in my heart for these early Cadillacs. What a unbelieveable piece of machinery.
Hello Frank, long time no see! This is gorgeous! ;-)
@ Don and Krise - The 1940 was a really fine Cadillac. And they helped keep that marquee alive all through the war years. What a car-ownership history you shared with your dad. (It's never too late to find another of that era to enjoy.)This 1939 model was incredible...I can only guess the cost of restoration. It looked like new.
Somehow, Frank, I knew you'd be an expert on these things. Love the self-portrait in this one.
Super photo, Frank. Maybe you've found a new profession - car photographer. Doesn't get better than this.
Another car we loved years ago was our 1957 Olds 4-door hardtop...green and white and all chrome. Gorgeous!
@ Jacob - The '57 Olds was quite a car. Huge and as big inside as a livingroom. I always though the '58 Chevrolet, a one year model design, was taken direct from your Olds. A restoration company had a '58 Chev at the show that demonstrated their techniques. It was in pieces and very interesting to see up close.
@ Brattcat - I AM a handsome devil (only!)in reflection. Can you see that unidentifiable "thing" at my right? What IS that??
cool reflections!
Quite beautiful. The reflections are nice too.
Wow! What a beauty! Love that blue...
That's a beauty! All that blue gives the car a gleam as if it's brand new. A great testament to the restoration work done on that old-school vehicle.
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